New Shotgun

[TaeKwonMiles]

Hi everyone. My names Miles and Im new to the group lol. Anyways I seen a mossberg 500 special purpose shotgun up at the local gun store and im planning on buying it. It has an extended mag, 12 gauge, heat shield, etc... This will be my first gun purchase and I just want something that I can go to the target range and have some fun with. The gun is within my budget and Im going to buy it.

I know that you have to break in handguns and rifles, but do you have to do the same with shotguns? If so, what is the process?

Thank you

Also, what kinda of shotgun rounds should i start out with?

 

[deputy tom]

Miles,welcome to the forums.It sounds like you have already made up your mind to buy the Mossberg and a good choice it is.They seem a little stiff when new but after use they smooth out.You can aid this process by lubing it well and shooting it much.You will have a lot of fun at the range with the Mossberg.Good luck with your new shotgun.tom.

 

[Oldnamvet]

Which rounds? Depends on what you are going to do. If you are going to shoot at some clays, most ranges don't want anything larger than 7 1/2 shot so it won't carry too far. If you are going to shoot at targets in front of a berm (start with no farther than 25 yards), you might want to try a selection of different brands of slugs and buckshot to see what to expect in the way of accuracy and patterns. Check with the range management as to what is allowed.

 

[Steve C]

It has an extended mag, 12 gauge, heat shield, etc... This will be my first gun purchase and I just want something that I can go to the target range and have some fun with.

Miles, here are a few things to consider. Guns are tools and like tools you first determine what you want to do and then select the tool, otherwise you may buy a hammer and find out you want to dig a hole.

From your description the shotgun you're looking at purchasing is something like this:

The above is primarily a defensive/offensive anti personnel shotgun commonly called a "riot gun" of the type used for home defense, the military and police. The choke is cylinder bore witch means "no choke". It will shoot slugs and buckshot well but is generally considered too "open" (IE. it throws a wide pattern) for typical trap, sporting clays and hunting birds at distances other than close up jump shots. This gun would be good to use if you can find a club that shoots defensive shotgun competitions, this usually in conjunction with handguns and carbine events.

Most shotgun target ranges where designed to simulate hunting of birds in flight. Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays are best shot with a longer barreled shotgun, you'll get strange looks if you bring a riot gun to a trap or skeet range. Trap and Skeet guns are even more specialized to the game but it can be shot with a typical longer barreled hunting setup fairly successfully. The extra magazine capacity doesn't matter because the most you'll ever need to load shooting these games is 2 shells and most clubs have rules against loading more than one shell except for doubles (two targets thrown at the same time). This type of shotgun is a better target/hunting gun for clays and birds.


Or you can get a 2 barreled set for a combo hunting/defense shotgun.